European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday the EU has started taking into account the unpredictability of the United States under President Donald Trump, noting that diplomatic ways have to be found in order to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
“I think it is pretty clear after this one year that the word that we have to take into account is unpredictability. So we are now more calm because we are expecting the unpredictable things to happen all the time,” Kallas said in an interview with Reuters.
This also comes as European countries have rejected calls from the U.S. to deploy naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that they have no intention of engaging militarily in the escalating conflict with Iran.
“We have to find diplomatic ways to keep this open so that we don’t have a food crisis, fertilizers crisis, energy crisis in the world,” she said.
Regarding Europe’s ties with the U.S., Kallas said the EU is willing to invest in the transatlantic partnership that has been under heavy strain.
“But it takes two to tango. Every relationship has two sides. So let’s look at things that we can do together. And if our participation is needed here and there, also we expect that we are consulted,” she said, adding that the bloc does not understand the U.S.’s moves recently.
On Monday, Trump accused some Western allies of ingratitude after several countries rebuffed his demand to send warships to escort oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flow.
